RESUMEN
To evaluate the visual and anatomical outcomes and complications of vitrectomy with or without removal of internal limiting membrane [ILM] in idiopathic macular hole [IMH] at Labbafinejad Medical Center, Tehran-Iran, 1993-2003. Hospital records of patients who had undergone vitrectomy for IMH and completed 6 months of follow up were reviewed for demographic data and outcomes of surgery .The study was conducted on 30 eyes [46.7% right eyes] of 29 patients [69% female] with mean age of 65.2 +/- 5.6 years. Mean duration of symptoms was 3.2 +/- 3.7 months [66.7% less than 6 months]. Preoperatively macular holes were in stages 2, 3, and 4 in 3.0%, 36.7%, and 33.3%, respectively. ILM removal was performed in 21 eyes [70%]. Mean visual acuity was 099 +/- 0.6 LogMAR preoperatively which reached to 0.87 +/- 0.39 LogMAR postoperatively [P=0.05]. Single operation anatomical success rate was 80% [24 eyes] and final success rate was 86.7% [26 eyes]. Retinal breaks developed in 3 eyes [10%] intraoperatively. ILM removal had no effect on increasing the rate of macular hole closure. ILM removal has no significant role on closure of IMH with less than 6 months of duration